A week is a long time …
It’s a week since I last wrote a postcard about the recent events here in Kyrgyzstan … and as the former British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, once commented, “A week is a long time in politics.”
It has certainly been a long week … an eventful week.
The interim government has set to work with gusto. It’s not been an easy task. There’s been a lot to do.
To matters more complicated, there is no united leadership. Roza Otunbaeva (former Ambassador to both the US and to Britain, and was selected as the chairman of the interim government, and she given four deputies and these five people represent five of the parties that made up the opposition. At the moment they are trying to work as a team and present a united front, but occasionally differences between them do emerge and we have to wait and see how they will handle in the months to come.
One of the biggest problems they have faced is that of “legitimacy”. Bakiev was the elected President – even if many people felt that he “stole” the election by using unfair means, (a view that I have heard expressed several times in the last week). Even though the international community expressed concerns over the conduct of the election, no-one declared that they considered the results to have been invalid. Bakiev was the President, but he had “run away” to his home village in the South of the country near the regional center of Djalal Abad, where he met with journalists and others. I hear that at he ended one interview, telling the journalist that his voice was going as a result of having given so many interviews.
There he was in the south of the country, away from the capital, and apparently unable to take command of the situation. Almost all the power structures are based in the capital, Bishkek, in the north.
According to some reports, even he accepted that he had no power to influence events. Some even said that he agreed that he had no “moral right” to be President after so many people died in the protests. Indeed, he said that he was prepared to resign but complained that there had been no negotiations, that no-one was talking to him. He had his conditions for resignation … he wanted guarantees for his safety, and safety for those of his family, and he wanted to stay in Kyrgyzstan.
He continued to maintain that he was innocent of wrong doing and he laid the blame fairly and squarely on the shoulders of the “opposition”, or the “interim government”, depending on which side of the argument you stand.
If, as he seems to have agreed, he was incapable of fulfilling his duties as President, then the Constitution decrees that the authority passes to speaker of the parliament … but she was in St. Petersburg and afraid to return to Bishkek. If the Speaker of the Parliament is incapacitated in anyway, then authority passes to the Prime Minister, but he had resigned and was, apparently in Kazakhstan.
Every decision the interim government made, every document they issued, every appointment they made, every signature and every stamp was open to question and dispute. The international community noted this and no-one recognized them, although offers of help and assistance to Kyrgyzstan and “the people of Kyrgyzstan” came in.
They seemed to treat Bakiev with disdain … and even disinterest. “Let him be the President of Osh” said one newly appointed official.
Eventually Bakiev attended a rally in his home village and, somewhat emboldened, he decided to travel top Osh, the second city of Kyrgyzstan, often referred to as the Southern Capital of the Republic. There, he was basically given “short shrift”, and the people he would normally have counted amongst his allies turned on him. His security guards fired into the air, pushed him into a car and drove him back home where, according to report, he appeared shaken.
Within hours he had left the country and resigned.
As well as having to find new people to take the posts vacated by resignations of the government, the interim government has had to look at virtually all the posts in civil service. Some people have been replaced, others not. One particular case has caused considerable debate, that of the Mayor of Bishkek. This is a fairly important post in the Republic, but the latest incumbent had proved to be quite popular and was seemingly making a real difference to the city. Despite this, he was removed from office and a criminal investigation started into his affairs … he denies all allegations of wrong doing and claims that it is all a case of politicking. I suppose that we’ll have to wait and see.
I am told that, apparently all of the staff who were employed at the White House have been dismissed – no matter how lowly or menial their role.
Of course, anyone who hasn’t been dismissed is eager to show how they are working and how good they are at their job. Tensions are high and tempers seem to be flaring in many a government office.
However, things here are getting back to normal … well, near to normal:
Shops are opening … well some shops: those that weren’t totally destroyed … Beta Stores is open working almost normally, but “Prague”, (the shop next door which only opened for business a couple of months ago, is still closed even though it escaped any form of raiding and looting, which is a minor disaster for me because that was the only place I could guarantee a supply of Schweppes Tonic Water or Bitter Lemon.)
Banks are open for business as normal … well, some banks that is, because five, that have connections with President Bakiev’s family have taken under special administration and a couple of others are subject to “special investigation” by the National Bank;
Offices are working normally … well, some offices, because some were looted and they cannot operate without their computers.
Restaurants, Cafes, Bars are welcoming diners … well, some restaurants, cafes and bars. Some are still undergoing renovations and some operate on shorter working hours than before, (which is probably wise because there are fewer clients at the moment)
Schools and Universities are operating as usual …well, as far as I am aware, all the schools are working, although some classes are denuded as some parents have kept their children at home while they see how things develop, and some lessons have been cancelled because teachers are ill.
Public transport is operating … Buses, trams, trains, (what few there are in Kyrgyzstan) and taxis are all running normally … well, there are less busses on the street because nearly thirty were completely destroyed and almost ninety suffered serious damage in the events of April 7th. There is some disruption at the airport, but after the first night, when it closed temporarily, most flights have arrived and departed according to the timetable.
The police are on duty and patrolling the street … well, most of them. Two policemen died and six hundred were injured in the upheaval, and according to the fifty or so officers who staged a, (peaceful), protest rally in the main square some of them are facing abuse and attacks when they are in uniform. They complain about being blamed for the tragic events when they were merely doing their duty. They lost twenty six police cars in the riots, The GAI, (the traffic police) are manning their roadside positions, controlling the traffic, stopping and fining drivers for whatever infringements that they detect.
Construction is under way, … well, at some sites around the city. Work on the 24-storey building just over the road seems to have been put “on hold” for a while, which, (at least), less banging and booming disturbing me at all hours of the day and night.
The borders are open … well, almost all of them. Three of our four neighbours, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan), closed their borders with Kyrgyzstan pretty sharply when the disturbances started, but now only the one with Kazakhstan remains closed, although they accepted a flight with Kurmanbek Bakiev on it, and there are rumours that even that border will soon be open
The big “clean-up” continues and the detritus remaining after the rioting and looting had been cleared away within days – … well, most of it. The city still bears signs of the damage incurred.
Meetings are called – I sometimes joke that Bishkek could lay claim to be the “Meetings Capital of the World”. Of course a lot of them have called to discuss different aspects of the current situation, but not all of them have been associated with recent events. For example, I got invited to one meeting to discuss proposals for changing the procedures for the registration of trade marks and names. There was nothing revolutionary about that. (I must admit, however, that I am not sure exactly why they decided to invite me).
One meeting was hosted by the British Ambassador, who came down from Astana, (the capital of Kazakhstan, where he is based). It’s his third visit to Bishkek in three months … and he is due again in just over a month for the QBP – The Queen’s Birthday Party. Apparently arrangements for this “bunfeast” are already under way … it’s a major event in the diplomatic calendar and I am sure that it would be a minor diplomatic incident if wasn’t held!
(By the way, the official advice from the (British) embassy is still to keep a low profile, stay away from crowds, be aware of your surroundings, and it would be better to avoid going out at night … but if the events of 2005 are anything to go by, I expect that this will soon change as the situation stabilizes.)
So, life goes on …
On a more personal note:
As far as we are concerned, then I, personally, have been kept extremely busy … writing, attending meetings and so on … and, of course, following the news. So much so, that the pile of papers on my desk has been constantly growing as I have been called off here and there to attend this or that meeting. The rest of the team has been working away in sterling fashion.
Those of us working in tourism are worried, of course, about the effect that all of this will have on the up-coming season.
Just as in 2005, (when, unfortunately, we went through a similar experience), we have taken a number of cancellations both in the hotels and from tour groups, but most of those relate to people who were due to arrive in the near future. Those who were planning to arrive later in the year still seem to be adopting a “wait and see” police … waiting to see how the situation develops. I can’t help recalling that those who did come later in 2005 encountered no problems but, in light of what I have seen on CNN and BBC, I can’t say that I blame anyone for cancelling; especially those who were planning to come here in April and May.
After all the uncertainty of the last week, Bakiev’s resignation has come somewhat as a relief. It doesn’t mean that everything will now be a “bed of roses”, there’s a lot to do and a lot of problems that need to be resolved, but it does remove a huge question mark which was hanging over the future like the sword of Damocles.
I am quite looking forward to getting back to dealing with run-of-the-mill everyday matters and making a dent on the pile of papers that has built up on my desk over the last ten days, or dealing more mundane crises, like the ceiling falling in on a family of friends last Monday evening … but that’s another story …
Finally, can I thank all those who have written in response to the last postcard – with comments, condolences, expressions of concern and sympathy, questions, and news … we appreciate the messages. Thank you!
Bishkek
Thanks for the update and for keeping things in perspective… like
the QBP and, more seriously, the lack of Schweppes Tonic water!
Most importantly, it is a relief that things are more stable for you.
We shall continue and hope that for everyone’s sake the
situation remains quiet.
As ever your postcards are invaluable.
thanks and good luck,
I have been off the news the last days and heard just this morning that
Bakiev resigned – which I felt was a relief too – but how you describe
his story makes me feel sad for him as a person, to be honest. I have no
idea what kind of person he is, but seems like all his dreams and goals
and visions have just been made impossible within a few days and the
last “friends” he had left… sad story for him as a person (though
maybe good story for the country – as you said – wait and see)
and: there is a 24-storey building built right across the street from
your office???? i am kind of shocked…. buildings that high have been
at other places in my memory, actually, I remember only the Pinara or
maybe the Dostuk being really high, and of course the white house is
kind of really big though not that high…. but in our street, a
24-storey-building, is kind of destroying my image of Bishkek. what is
the most disturbing – probably many such changes have gone about the
last few years…. If at any time you have a chance to take a few pictures
of the streets I knew best (though I don’t even remember the names) that
would be great to send one or two to me. (so I am not that shocked when
I come back some day…)
hope for you and anybody else in the tourism business that people really
have learnt from those many recent revolutions in former soviet
countries, that these don’t last for months, but usually it’s over in a
couple of weeks – so they know that from june onwards there most
probably won’t be any danger for them and don’t cancel their tours.
…
wish you all the best, very much looking forward to your next postcard!
Thank you again so very much for this extensive, informative, well-written, and just-the-right-amount-of humorous update on the situation in Kyrgyzstan.
Ian, thank you for this. It’s good to hear what is really going on – not much news of Kyrgyzstan here as the country is too busy going UK election mad! Can I quote some of what you say on my blog? (I will of course put a link to your website).
I am so sorry that I hadn’t responded to your previous cards. I was just so overwhelmed with what’s going on there. I have tried to reach the hotel the evening of April the 7th, and couldn’t get through. … It is quite shocking and very sad to see and hear what happened. At least in 2005, Akaev didn’t lead to a blood shed and left the country peacefully….
Thank you so very much for sending me your postcards too! So far, the news sources for me are your cards, … and azattyk.kg. It breaks my heart …
Please take care of yourself and be safe. And please pass on my warmest regards and prayers to everybody.
With love,
Thank you again for keeping us informed of the evolution of the situation
in Bishkek. It makes a world of difference for us. We all wish you a fast come
back to a normal situation, as well as a prompt improvement in the country’s
political and economical life.
All the very best to you and to everybody we know in Bishkek.
Thanks for your postcard concerning the situation in Kirghizstan. am very optimistic about what is going on in Bishkek. Life is always like this, when people are not satisfied with their life, they have to do something
Thanks a lot!
thanks a lot for the update. Just hoping that the new leaders will be able to cope with the mess left after the events.
and my qauestions are :
1. What happened to the 2 milliards $ promised by Russia, or paid or half paid or already gone….
2. and about the 800 million $ from USA?
3. do we see these huge amounts in the budget of Education? Health?
4. Russia and USa hleps Kyrgyzstan by having military bases…
5. China by constructing roads all across the country…and using 955 of “chinese” wrokers…kyrgyz are good to carry thme cups of tea…
future is not bright but i love this country…and this is my problem…
Take care my dear Ian,
Very interesting to hear about the Embassy response! Yes, very different to last time.
It’s all really sad for Kyrgyzstan, I really hope they can truly move forward this time. Thanks for the updates – it’s all elections and volcanoes here!